A Photo Teacher |

March 19, 2020

 

Real-Time Data Tracking on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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Within a moment of time, what seemed unimaginable and unreal has become quite surreal and serious, Coronavirus (COVID-19), which is now a global pandemic.

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As the College canceled classes, we’re all being asked to adapt to a new way of going about our day-to-day existence.  Washing our hands in warm water for 20 seconds more than we imagined we’d be doing. Social distancing from each other and leading isolated lives, attempting to have virtual connections. Staying sheltered inside watching the clouds drift by and wondering.

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We’re in a different moment in history and a different moment as a society, a culture, a global community. And it just may remain different for a little while, we can at least hope.

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With this comes a flurry of emotional and psychological impacts for each of us.

Anxiety. Uncertainly. Isolation. Loneliness. A Sense of Loss. Anger. Aggravation. Frustration.

But also, maybe a little Hope. Strength in Spirituality. Connections. Comfort. Adaptation.

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May 17, 2020

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Assignment

Visually investigate the conceptual idea of your personal experience during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and the role and function of photography as a means of proof of one’s existence during this time.

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Think about how photographs can serve as metaphors for the range of experiences and emotions you’re feeling.

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Shoot digital images with either your cell phone or a digital camera that reveal a sense of personal space and existence. The resulting images will be need to be uploaded to  https://www.instagram.com/a_phototeacher/

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In thinking about your conceptual concerns and what to photograph, I would propose you gravitate towards what is immediately accessible to you – your home and surroundings.

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Advisory for Shooting Outside

It will be essential and necessary to pay attention to updates from the CDC and the College for how to best proceed in the coming weeks.

If you do go outside to photograph, please exercise as much social distancing as possible from others, and I’d recommend avoiding any group gatherings, even if they are small.

As such, please practice the very best with personal hygiene, including carrying portable hand sanitizer and washing your hands.

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How would you approach your current personal, emotional and social experience to reveal what this would look like as a series of photographs?

In addition to their visual engagement, what do you want the photographs to reveal, suggest or evoke, intellectually and/or emotionally, in relationship to what you’re currently experiencing?

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In considering your photographic vision and use of camera aesthetics, give particular attention to your use of the photographic frame, vantage point, moments of exposure and the role and use of light, as well as color or tone to reveal your interpretation of the thing itself and details.

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Consider various visual strategies and points of view, including the compositional possibilities with a single frame, multiple-image sequences, the juxtaposition of images (diptychs and triptychs) and multiple-image series, such as grids and/or typologies (photographing the same type of subject with same type of framing/vantage point/lighting).

It is essential that your photographs reflect a sense of considered thought, active visual exploration and is articulated with a cohesive vision and voice.

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Requirements

During the next 8 weeks (March 30 – May 21) and for weekly evaluation, please complete the following:

Each week, upload a minimum of 10 photographs on the Instagram site that reflect and begin to reveal your current personal, emotional and social experience during the COVID-19 pandemic through your photographic vision as follows:

Upload as Multiple-Image Post(s)

and/or as Individual Posts

Please submit on either the Canvas Assignment Page or the IG Assignment Post:

1. notification that assignment has been completely uploaded for evaluation
2. the number of pictures uploaded on Instagram
3. brief reflective writing about what you’ve been experiencing

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Note:  Submission #4

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“Sometimes I like the idea of making a picture that does not look like a human picture. Humans make pictures which tend to be about five feet above the ground looking out horizontally. I like very fast flying insects moving all over and I wonder what their view is from moment to moment. I have made a few pictures which show that physical viewpoint.” – William Eggleston

This past week, the New York Times ran a story with 3D imagery about scientists who study the transmission of respiratory illnesses like influenza say that infections typically happen when a healthy person comes into contact with respiratory droplets from an infected person’s cough, sneeze or breath. The 3D imagery is interesting in showing how these respiratory droplets travel in air.

For Submission #4, please make photographs that imagine what something would look like if these respiratory droplets had fallen on an object, a person, the floor, countertop, doorknob, etc…

Please consider using your image-making device, smartphone camera or digital camera with framing and vantage point approaches that reveal the physical viewpoint of a fast flying insect as suggested by William Eggleston.

Minimum of 10 photographs submitted by Sunday, April 26 at 11:59 pm.

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Hashtag

It is very important you include the following hashtag so that I can view your work for the assignment and evaluate it. The following hashtag template is to be used:

#YourLastName_GCPHOT(Class Number)

Example: #Turounet_GCPHOT150

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Weekly Due Date and Time

Postings need to be completed by Sunday, 11:59 (PST) of each week:

#1 – April 5

#2 – April 12

#3 – April 19

#4 – April 26 – Please see Submission #4 Assignment on Instagram and/or Canvas

#5 – May 3

#6 – May 10

#7 – May 17

#8 – May 24

Final Submission #8

10 images that reflect a narrative possibility through a cohesive visual sensibility and aesthetic purpose/range uploaded on the Instagram

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Evaluation Criteria

Completing Weekly Assignment / Submission Requirements

15 – 20 images uploaded on the Instagram (Submissions #1 – #3)

10 images on the Instagram (Submissions #4 – #8)

Image Strategies, including Sequencing, use of Diptych/Triptych, Grids

Use and Range of Aesthetic Considerations

Frame

Vantage Point

Moments of Exposure

Use & Range of Light – Natural/Indoors/Mixed

Use of Color or Tone (Grayscale)

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